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noella_t's review against another edition
1.0
I got through about 100 pages of this and just couldn't go any further. Some of the allusions to sexual acts with the foot were very off-putting, the main character seems just shallow - while I understand she left an abusive husband, I saw nothing redeeming about her character.
Others may enjoy the book, I didn't. There are too many other good books out there, I don't need to waste my time with this one.
Others may enjoy the book, I didn't. There are too many other good books out there, I don't need to waste my time with this one.
ohmygodlinda's review against another edition
3.0
Creepy and atmospheric and taught me more about foot fetishism than I ever needed to know.
kalkie's review against another edition
1.0
I really struggled to read this book and didn't enjoy the experience. I love reading books about or set in China, whether factual or fictional, so I think this book came as a double disappointment.
Harrison has created a book which is just overflowing with characters. The main characters number 16 (May, her father, mother & grandmother, nieces Alice and Cecliy, her husband Arthur, his sister Dolly and her husband Dick, the childrens' governesses Miss Waters and Miss Clusburton, not to mention Captain Litovsky, Suzanne Petrovna and Evlanoff and Agnes and Rose) with a supporting cast of as many if not more. The story is also set along multiple time-lines in both May's life and that of her niece, Alice. As such the story jumps around from year to year - but not in chronological order. Unfortunately Harrison is not skilled enough as a writer to either be able to handle the cast of thousands she has created, nor keep the story flowing well enough over the different time periods, and I found myself struggling to follow what was happening. Had this book been written in chronological order, with fewer key characters, I think this could have been a good read. As it is the book ends up being shallow, confusing and disjointed. Characters seem to take key decisions in their lives without the reader being aware of what has prompted them to do so, and in the end it's just a guddle of stories (reading almost like a collection of short stories by the same author).
Unfortunatley Harrison has now made it on to my "never to be read again" author list.
Harrison has created a book which is just overflowing with characters. The main characters number 16 (May, her father, mother & grandmother, nieces Alice and Cecliy, her husband Arthur, his sister Dolly and her husband Dick, the childrens' governesses Miss Waters and Miss Clusburton, not to mention Captain Litovsky, Suzanne Petrovna and Evlanoff and Agnes and Rose) with a supporting cast of as many if not more. The story is also set along multiple time-lines in both May's life and that of her niece, Alice. As such the story jumps around from year to year - but not in chronological order. Unfortunately Harrison is not skilled enough as a writer to either be able to handle the cast of thousands she has created, nor keep the story flowing well enough over the different time periods, and I found myself struggling to follow what was happening. Had this book been written in chronological order, with fewer key characters, I think this could have been a good read. As it is the book ends up being shallow, confusing and disjointed. Characters seem to take key decisions in their lives without the reader being aware of what has prompted them to do so, and in the end it's just a guddle of stories (reading almost like a collection of short stories by the same author).
Unfortunatley Harrison has now made it on to my "never to be read again" author list.
carmenrm's review against another edition
3.0
Ha sido como una película de sobremesa hecha libro, no me ha aportada nada. La historia no seguía un orden cronológico sino que iba saltando a diferentes momentos causando confusión. La parte que más me ha gustado es en la que se trata los años de juventud de May y es a la que menos tiempo le ha dedicado la autora.
lissan's review against another edition
4.0
May is only five years old when her grandmother imposes the Chinese tradition of foot binding to her. This affects her whole life, but being the strong person she is, she refuses to let it hinder her in her ambitions. Married to an older man who already have three wives, she is faced with a cruel man, his wives and a humiliating life. But May is not the person to suffer silently, so she breaks away and starts a new life as a prostitute. The aim is to find a wealthy Englishman to marry. She starts by learning English.
Life does not always turns out as is expected and May stays longer in her profession as she had anticipated. But one day Arthur Cohen turns up in her room and her life changes forever. He is not there for the usual reason, but comes as a representative of the "Foot Emancipation Society". He is there to help her, but falls hopelessly in love. He proposes to May who is reluctant to venture into a marriage with Arthur, who is a somewhat confused man. However, his insistency pays out and they marry.
As Arthur's wife she enters the life of a Jewish business family living in Shanghai. Arthur is living with and from his brother who is a wealthy businessman, while Arthur ventures into schemes bound to fail even before they start. May forms a bond with Arthur's niece Alice, and the story is set from the point of view of these two characters. It takes place in the beginning of the 20th century in Shanghai, London and Nice. Along the way May and Alice meet a set of colourful women, all of them disfigured, either physically or mentally. Alice is set to make life easier for May who consistently resists, and May is trying to prevent Alice from falling in love and make decisions that will effect her whole life. In the end all women meet in Nice, in another setting, another kind of world, but all stuck in their own life's tale.
Through and through the book we get an insight into the complicated life of women exposed to foot binding. It is often horrific reading, and you can just imagine, or maybe not, the pain and complications that followed them during their whole life.
It is a wonderfully written book, well researched, compassionate and thrilling. Life in China with its traditions and culture and the clashing with European values, makes this an intriguing story.
Wonderful characters, quite different who, by destiny, are intermingling in each others life. Well written, well developed characters and times. She writes about the essential questions of life; who are we? Are we formed by our past, traditions and culture? It is a story about class, race and gender, beautifully and engagingly written. Makes you want to read more by Kathryn Harrison. She has written several books; both fiction and non-fiction.
Review form my blog: thecontentreader.blogspot.com
Life does not always turns out as is expected and May stays longer in her profession as she had anticipated. But one day Arthur Cohen turns up in her room and her life changes forever. He is not there for the usual reason, but comes as a representative of the "Foot Emancipation Society". He is there to help her, but falls hopelessly in love. He proposes to May who is reluctant to venture into a marriage with Arthur, who is a somewhat confused man. However, his insistency pays out and they marry.
As Arthur's wife she enters the life of a Jewish business family living in Shanghai. Arthur is living with and from his brother who is a wealthy businessman, while Arthur ventures into schemes bound to fail even before they start. May forms a bond with Arthur's niece Alice, and the story is set from the point of view of these two characters. It takes place in the beginning of the 20th century in Shanghai, London and Nice. Along the way May and Alice meet a set of colourful women, all of them disfigured, either physically or mentally. Alice is set to make life easier for May who consistently resists, and May is trying to prevent Alice from falling in love and make decisions that will effect her whole life. In the end all women meet in Nice, in another setting, another kind of world, but all stuck in their own life's tale.
Through and through the book we get an insight into the complicated life of women exposed to foot binding. It is often horrific reading, and you can just imagine, or maybe not, the pain and complications that followed them during their whole life.
It is a wonderfully written book, well researched, compassionate and thrilling. Life in China with its traditions and culture and the clashing with European values, makes this an intriguing story.
Wonderful characters, quite different who, by destiny, are intermingling in each others life. Well written, well developed characters and times. She writes about the essential questions of life; who are we? Are we formed by our past, traditions and culture? It is a story about class, race and gender, beautifully and engagingly written. Makes you want to read more by Kathryn Harrison. She has written several books; both fiction and non-fiction.
Review form my blog: thecontentreader.blogspot.com
suzmac's review against another edition
3.0
Wonderfully written with a touch of the fantastic (as in hard to believe). Book club selection. Many older folks in the group complained about the deviant sexuality portrayed. But such scenes were brief and demonstrate the demoralizing life the heroine led for a time. I found the whole foot thing fascinating. Story revolves around last century China and the different lives and times of grandmother and granddaughter. Strong women indeed.
amc70's review
challenging
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
playprettychelsea's review against another edition
2.0
Really disappointed in this book. I can see that it tried to come off as poetic but it comes across as being overly complicated and confusing.
clairedevitt's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0